88(1) HB 4 - Introduced version - Bill Text

	By:  Cook	H.B.  No.  4

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the punishment for the criminal offense of operation of
	a stash house; increasing a criminal penalty.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION  1.    Section 20.07(b), Penal Code, is amended to read
	as follows:
	(b)    An offense under this section is a felony of the third
	degree, except that the offense is a felony of the second degree if
	it is shown on the trial of the offense that as a direct result of
	the commission of the offense:
	(1)    an individual became a victim of sexual assault,
	as defined by Section 22.011, or aggravated sexual assault, as
	defined by Section 22.021; or
	(2)    an individual suffered serious bodily injury or
	death [Class A misdemeanor].
	SECTION  2.    The change in law made by this Act applies only
	to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
	An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
	governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
	and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For the
	purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
	effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
	before that date.
	SECTION  3.    This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.